Aug 20-21 Overnight Lewes, DE Pelagic

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Paul Guris

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Jul 20, 2016, 9:22:57 PM7/20/16
to Post Maryland & DC Birding
We are running a trip out of Lewes, DE to the deep (over 6,00') waters beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf.  The trip will leave at 10:30 PM and return at approximately 4:30 PM the next day.  The cost is $225 per person.  We still need about 20 people to get the trip to sail.

Past trips of ours in the Mid-Atlantic region at this time of year have found great birds like FEA'S PETREL (once), HERALD/TRINDADE PETREL (once), BLACK-CAPPEP PETREL (several times), BAND-RUMPED and LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS (most trips), WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (multiple trips), SOUTH POLAR SKUA (multiple trips), LONG-TAILED JAEGER (multiple trips), SABINE'S GULL (once), BRIDLED TERM (multiple trips), and more regular species like CORY'S, GREAT, and AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.  We've also found good cetaceans in these deep waters such as CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE, PILOT WHALE, RISSO'S DOLPHIN, and even STRIPED DOLPHIN.

We will be aboard the approximately 100' long THELMA DALE V.  Our plan is to head out to the deep waters beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf in the dark and set out a chum slick.  We will spend some time at first light scanning the storm-petrel flock since this has been our best method for finding Band-rumped and Leach's Storm-Petrels. When we feel we've covered the slick well, we'll work other areas until we head for home.  We expect to spend most of our offshore time in Maryland waters.

Sleeping conditions are roughly camping style, and the choice of sleeping space will be determined by the order people signed up.  People who sign up early get first pick of where they wish to sleep.  Sleeping bags and ground pads are the way to go, and people will be sleeping on benches, the cabin floor, and on the upper deck.  We will limit the number of participants so as not to overcrowd the boat.

See Life Paulagics always provides friendly, helpful, and approachable leaders for all of our trips. We use radios to get the word of any sightings around the boat quickly. It is important to us to get the participants on the birds and make sure they are comfortable with the IDs, not just create a good trip list.

Be sure to check out our web site for information on how to sign up, and to review our policies. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us by e-mail or phone.

Hope to see you aboard!


-PAG
--
Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics
PO Box 161
Green Lane, PA  18054
215-234-6805
www.paulagics.com
paulagics.com@gmail.com
in...@paulagics.com

Edward Boyd

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Jul 27, 2016, 10:12:20 PM7/27/16
to Paul Guris, Post Maryland & DC Birding
Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to chime in and post regarding this trip. For those of you that might have missed the last overnight trip in May or are still on the fence about the value of this trip, let me tell you that this is the trip to be on if you want a chance to get some of the hardest pelagic species to get in Maryland waters without chartering a special boat yourself or somehow finding yourself on a cruise ship heading past the state. I would likely be on this trip again this year if it weren't for the fact that I will be on a trip somewhere else. On August 25th, 2012 Paul ran this trip to the deep waters off the canyon edges east of Ocean City and we had an amazing day. We had many of the birds listed above including Trindade and Black-capped Petrel, all of the storm-petrels (including white-faced) and Arctic Tern. Here's a checklist for that day http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S11456138 . This is prime time of year for the chance to get White-faced Storm-petrel, though it's never a guarantee.

$225 can be a little steep but for an overnight pelagic that gets you to a chance for some great birds, it can be well worth the expense. There are few opportunities anymore to get out into Maryland waters at most anytime of year. Though storms offshore could create rougher conditions, these seas at this season are often as good as they get for deepwater trips and it's summer so you don't have to worry so much about keeping warm and dry. If Paul continues to have difficulty in filling these trips he will stop chartering them and then the chances of getting out become almost non-existent. 

The spring trip on June 4th filled up at the last minute and it turned into a great trip. Ask anyone that was on it and they'll tell you how special that trip was. Keep these trips happening by signing up if you're on the fence. The trip needs to be booked in another week or so or it will cancel out, he can't wait until the 20th to see if they get the bookings.

DIsclaimer - I have no financial interest in Paul's bookings and can't go on this trip. I just feel that it's important to support these trips to keep them alive.

Regards to all,

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD

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